On the Road

The risk of injuring yourself while longboarding can sometimes be high, but the main thing is to enjoy yourself and have fun learning new things while challenging yourself. In order to do this it is important to Think Skate & Skate Safe!

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Remember our sport is not limited to closed tracks where skaters are the only occupants; we skate on roads and therefore share them with many others. Remember if you skate on the road, there will be cars. To coexist peacefully with motorists we must understand the rules of the road and remain aware of traffic at all times this will allow one to anticipate how to best handle a situation.
 

In order to Become One with the traffic you must Be the Traffic​
 

Think as yourself as a vehicle and ask yourself:

• What kind of road are you on and what direction is the flow of traffic (One Way, etc)?
• What is the roads speed limit?
• Where might other vehicles be turning, slowing down or merging into your lane?
• Do you have your lights (Reflective Gear) on at night?



Corners

Almost everyone who enjoys skating loves a nice corner, a real tight hairpin bend always gets your blood pumping! However because these corners are often blind it makes skating them particularly dangerous as neither you nor any oncoming traffic know about each other. Due to our traffic system left hand corners  are particularly dangerous because if you are travelling in the left lane and take a right hand corner and loose it you will slide off the road, however if you are taking a left hand turn and lose control you will be sliding into the opposite lane of traffic on a blind corner!!! Therefore always remember when cornering to stay in your lane and be extra careful cornering left by maintaining a comfortable controllable speed. One way to increase your safety on corners is to use Spotters!

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Spotters
If you are riding blind corners you should always use SPOTTERS !!

Spotters, are individuals that stand look out in potentially dangerous situations such as a blind corners or intersections. These spotters then use arm signals or flags to warn riders of any immediate hazards such as oncoming traffic or pedestrians, which allows them time to react accordingly. Understandably spotting can be slightly frustrating as you have to watch the rest of your mates skate without you and maybe skate a little less but a spotter’s importance is most valuable. Don’t see spotting as a chore but rather a time to get some footage or a few photos, drink something and just chill and enjoy watching what you love doing. Having spotters allows you to charge into corners with peace of mind, and no hesitations making you uncomfortable and when you feel comfortable skating somewhere you can focus on the only thing that really matters; enjoying the ride!!



Rider Etiquette

Riding in a pack of skaters is a rush but can also be dangerous. In order to reduce the risk of collisions it is important to communicate properly with each other. Besides the obvious verbal communications, it is also important to learn and use hand signals. Hand signals can be easily seen and allow all riders behind you to know your intentions, so that they can plan accordingly.

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​Remember to always consider the traffic and other riders around you. If you are going to change your line moving from one side of the road to another, insure you will not force another rider off their line and potentially off the road or out of their lane. If you are drafting and intend to give a fellow rider a helping hand make sure they are aware you are going to do so and do it gently and in a straight line. 



Lastly remember, roads were built for cars, so respect them. Make it a pleasure for them to share the road with you and try remember that every car  has a person in it and being friendly can go a long way…. Let’s try get the public to like having us around !!!